Bypass grafting method

Abstract

A method of implanting a graft in the body of a patient to bypass a segment of a blood vessel includes the steps of: (1) securing a first end of the graft to the blood vessel at a first location while the first location is covered by a substantially intact portion of the epidermis of the body, and (2) securing a second end of the graft to the blood vessel at a second location while the second location is exposed through an incision in the body. The first end securing step comprises the step of securing the first end of the graft to the blood vessel with an expandable stent. The second end securing step comprises the step of suturing the second end of the graft to the blood vessel.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A method of implanting a graft in the body of a patient to bypass a segment of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: securing a first end of the graft to the blood vessel at a first location while the first location is covered by a substantially intact portion of the epidermis of the body; and   securing a second end of the graft to the blood vessel at a second location while the second location is exposed through an incision in the body.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first end securing step comprises the step of securing the first end of the graft to the blood vessel with an expandable stent; and   the second end securing step comprises the step of suturing the second end of the graft to the blood vessel.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: advancing the first end of the graft through the incision to the first location; and   advancing the second end of the graft through the incision to the second location.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first end of the graft is located outside of the blood vessel during the entire first end advancing step. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is remote from the second location, with the first location being located at an aorta and the second location being located at a femoral artery. 
     
     
       6. A method of implanting a graft in the body of a patient to bypass a segment of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: making an incision in the body;   securing a first end of the graft to the blood vessel at a first location while the first location is covered by a substantially intact portion of the epidermis of the body; and   securing a second end of the graft to the blood vessel at a second location while the second location is exposed through the incision.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, wherein: the first end securing step comprises the step of securing the first end of the graft to the blood vessel with an expandable stent; and   the second end securing step comprises the step of suturing the second end of the graft to the blood vessel.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: advancing the first end of the graft through the incision to the first location; and   advancing the second end of the graft through the incision to the second location.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first end of the graft is located outside of the blood vessel during the entire first end advancing step. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first location is remote from the second location. 
     
     
       11. A method of implanting a graft in the body of a patient to bypass a segment of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: forming an anastomosis between a first end of the graft and the blood vessel at a first location while the first location is covered by a substantially intact portion of the epidermis of the body; and   forming an anastomosis between a second end of the graft and the blood vessel at a second location while the second location is exposed through an incision in the body.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the first end anastomosis forming step comprises the step of securing the first end of the graft to the blood vessel with an expandable stent; and   the second end anastomosis forming step comprises the step of suturing the second end of the graft to the blood vessel.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: advancing the first end of the graft through the incision to the first location; and   advancing the second end of the graft through the incision to the second location.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first end of the graft is located outside of the blood vessel during the entire first end advancing step. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first location is remote from the second location, with the first location being located at an aorta and the second location being located at a femoral artery.